Optical Buffer Routing Node for Silicon Photonics
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity of the control unit in prior art routing nodes leads to intricate circuit designs and excessive components, hindering integration on a single chip in optical network-on-chip systems.
Innovation Solution
A routing node with an optical buffer and a switching node, where the optical buffer parses destination routing node identifiers and the switching node determines port states, allowing for storage or transmission of optical signals based on port availability, simplifying circuit complexity and reducing component count.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a control unit with control and arbitration functions is used in the routing node, then the routing node can manage optical signal transmission, but the circuit design becomes complex and the number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The routing node is divided into two independent functional modules: an optical buffer unit that performs control functions (parsing destination identifiers, determining port states) and a switching unit that performs arbitration and signal routing. This segmentation allows each module to be optimized independently, reducing overall circuit complexity while maintaining full control and arbitration capabilities.
2Extent of automation
If multiple components are used to implement control and arbitration functions, then the routing node can handle optical signal transmission, but integration on a single chip becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The optical buffer unit and switching unit are designed to be integrated on a single chip, with the optical buffer unit containing the control logic and the switching unit containing the arbitration logic. This merging of previously separate functions into a unified integrated structure enables single-chip implementation while maintaining full control and arbitration functionality.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to the field of silicon photonics technologies and discloses a routing node, an optical switching network, and an optical signal transmission method. The routing node includes: at least one optical buffer, a switching node, and at least one transmission waveguide, where an output end of each optical buffer is connected to an input end of the switching node; and each transmission waveguide is connected to an output end of the switching node. The method includes: receiving an optical signal by using an optical buffer, and parsing the optical signal, to obtain an identifier of a destination routing node; determining whether an output port required by the destination routing node is currently idle or busy; and if the output port required by the destination routing node is busy, storing the optical signal in the optical buffer, and until the output port required by the destination routing node is idle, sending the stored optical signal to the destination routing node by using a transmission waveguide corresponding to the output port required by the destination routing node; or if the output port required by the destination routing node is idle, sending the optical signal to the destination routing node by using a transmission waveguide corresponding to the output port required by the destination routing node. According to the present invention, circuit complexity of a switching node and an optical buffer is simplified.